Series 2, Episode 4: Saleh Bakri.

In this episode, we talk to the award-winning Palestinian actor Saleh Bakri.

Series 2. Episode 3: Hasan Hadi on The President's Cake.

In this episode, we speak with award-winning director Hasan Hadi about his debut feature film, The President's Cake. We discuss how Hasan brought 1990s Iraq to life, the impact of casting non-professional actors and the film's potential to put Iraqi cinema in the spotlight.

An emotional film with a universal message, The President's Cake is an important piece of art that tells an Iraqi story without the influence of Western preconceptions about the country's people and past.

Premiering in the Director's Fortnight section of the Cannes Film Festival in 2025, The President's Cake won the Audience Award and the Camera d'Or prize for best debut feature. It was also shortlisted for an Oscar after being selected as Iraq's entry in the Best International Feature category at the 2025 Academy Awards. 

The President's Cake is available to rent now on Curzon at Home. 

Hosted by Sarah Agha 

Produced by Hemeroscope Studios

Music by Mina Samy

Series 2. Episode 2: Soudade Kaadan on Nezouh.

In this episode, we speak with multi award winning filmmaker Soudade Kaadan about her feature film Nezouh. We discuss the significance of Syrian stories on screen, producing independent cinema and the inventive use of comedy and magic realism as a way to tackle difficult themes and topics.

Soudade reflects on making the film, the casting of Kinda Alloush and Samer Al-Masry, the importance of authenticity and why she wants to invite Syrians back to the cinema.

Hosted by Sarah Agha 

Series 2. Episode 1: Cherien Dabis on All That’s Left Of You.

Cherien reflects on making the film amid war, curfews, and escalating violence and the resilience required to keep going under impossible conditions. 

Cherien Dabis is a Palestinian-American Emmy Award nominated TV and Oscar shortlisted film director and an actress whose work includes starring in Mo Amer’s hit Netflix show Mo.

Her latest feature film All That’s Left of You will be released in cinemas in the UK and Ireland on February 6th 2026 and is distributed by T A P E Collective. 

Find a screening near you:

Hosted by Sarah Agha 

Produced by Hemeroscope Studios 

Music by Mina Samy 

Cover image by Stephanie Diani

The Arab Film Club podcast is back for a second series, where host Sarah Agha will dive deep into Arab cinema: the stories, the craft, and the voices shaping its future.

New episodes will drop every two months on the first Wednesday, starting from February 4th, 2026. 

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Podbean. Subscribe today.

Presented by Sarah Agha

Poster and production by Hemeroscope

Music by Mina Samy

On June 30th 2024, The Arab Film Club returned to the Southbank Centre for a special event for Refugee Week around the theme, 'Home'.

The screening was followed by a Q&A hosted by curator Sarah Agha with the filmmakers in person. This bonus episode is a recording of the Q&A which took place on stage.

The programme...

Al Sit by Suzannah Mirghani (Sudan, 20 minutes)

Beneath a Mother's Feet by Elias Suhail (Morocco, 15 minutes)

An Orange from Jaffa by Mohammed Almughanni (Palestine, 26 minutes) "Mohammed is desperately looking for a taxi to take him through an Israeli checkpoint. But when the driver discovers that Mohammed has already failed to cross the checkpoint, trouble begins."

Presented by Sarah Agha.

Special thanks to Counterpoint Arts for partnering on this event.

Episode 5: Farah Nabulsi on 'The Teacher'

Logline: “A Palestinian school teacher finds himself caught between his risky commitment to political resistance and his emotional support for one of his most promising students.”

Series One : Palestinian Cinema.

Episode mixing and mastering: Aodhagán O’Flaherty.

Episode 4 : Annemarie Jacir on 'Wajib'.

Annemarie has written, directed and produced over sixteen films with festival premieres at Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Locarno and Toronto. All three of her features were Palestine’s Oscar entries. 

She is the founder of the production company Philistine Films and the co-founder of the artist-run space Dar Jacir for Art & Research in her hometown of Bethlehem.  

The story of 'Wajib' follows an estranged father and son who must come together to hand deliver wedding invites as per traditional Palestinian custom. But as the pair spend the day together, can they put their differences aside or will the tense relationship comes to a head?

Wajib is available to rent online from the BFI iPlayer, Apple TV and more.

Series One : Palestinian Cinema.

Episode mixing and mastering: Aodhagán O’Flaherty.

Episode 3: Ameen Nayfeh on '200 Metres'.

Ameen Nayfeh is a Palestinian filmmaker from Tulkarem who wrote and directed 200 Metres, based on his experiences growing up in the occupied West Bank.

Logline: “The Israeli separation wall sits between Mustafa and his family. Denied entry on a technicality, Mustafa will stop at nothing to reach his injured son on the other side.”

The film starring Ali Suleiman premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in 2020 and has won multiple awards worldwide. It is available to watch now on Netflix. 

Episode 2: Lina Soualem on 'Bye Bye Tiberias'.

Lina is an actress and filmmaker of Palestinian and Algerian heritage, born and raised in Paris. Through intimate storytelling, the film explores the life, love and losses of Lina's mother - the Palestinian actress and star of HBO's 'Succession' - Hiam Abbas.

Logline: “Years after leaving her Palestinian village, Hiam returns home in this intimate documentary about four generations of women and their shared legacy of separation.”

Bye Bye Tiberias premiered in 2023 at Venice International Film Festival and went on to screen at some of the world’s most prestigious festivals including Toronto, the BFI London Film Festival, the IDFA & many more. It was also chosen to represent Palestine at the Oscars 2024 and was nominated as Best Documentary at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards.

Series One : Palestinian Cinema.